As dietitians, you can help our clients manage problems with their nutrition and dietary requirements resulting from their transport accident injuries.

We have approved, and can pay, the reasonable costs of dietetic services, without prior approval, for consultations and weight management programs where a patient is unable to independently maintain his or her pre-accident weight due to transport accident injuries.

We can also pay for dietetic services for an at-risk patient whose dietary requirements cannot be satisfied by a normal diet because of the transport accident injury/condition.

For patients with a severe injury, the discussion, referral and approval of medication may form part of the independence planning process. If your patient's accident was prior to 14th February 2018 they may need to meet the medical excess before you can invoice the TAC for treatment.

Here’s how to work with our clients, manage billing and payments and find out what we can and cannot pay for.

Register as a provider

You can provide dietetic services if you are a dietitian who is qualified and accredited with the Dietitian Association of Australia (DAA).

Before the appointment

Does your patient have a TAC claim?

Yes – you can treat the patient immediately. You will need their claim number.

Not sure – call us on 1300 654 329 to check.

If you use LanternPay, you can also check your patient’s claim status online.

Does the medical excess apply?

If your patient's accident occurred prior to 14th February 2018 they may need to meet the medical excess before you can invoice us for their treatment. Call us on 1300 654 329 to check your patient’s medical excess status.

Treating our clients

We can pay the reasonable costs of your patient’s dietetic services, without prior approval, when required as a result of a transport accident injury.

We can pay for dietetic consultations, weight loss and weight management treatment and services that are clinically justified by a medical practitioner, in some circumstances.

For an at-risk patient, whose dietary requirements cannot be satisfied by a normal diet, we can pay for continued management of special food and special food formula prescribed by a medical practitioner, hospital or provider of a hospital service.

When clinically justified, travel to conduct treatment in the community, including a travel fee of less than 30 minutes, can also be paid.

For patients with a severe injury, the discussion, referral and approval of services may form part of the independence planning process. If your patient already has an individualised funding package, dietetic services may be included as part of that.

Does the medical excess apply?

Accidents that occurred before 14 February 2018 may be subject to the medical excess. Call us on 1300 654 329 to check your patient’s medical excess status. If the excess is applicable, and hasn’t yet been reached, you will need to request payment from your patient. You may be able to bill your patient’s private health insurance for the treatment.

Other resources

FAQs

Will you pay for weight loss programs or meal replacement services?

We cannot pay for home delivered meal services, such as Lite 'n Easy, or commercial weight loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Optifast. See: Guidelines – Dietitian for a complete list of what we can and cannot pay for.

Can I treat your client and bill you afterwards – or do I first have to be a registered TAC provider?

As a registered allied health provider, you don’t need to register with us before treating our clients. However we prefer that you complete our simple online registration form before you invoice us. Make sure you record their TAC claim number or confirm that they have an accepted TAC claim - you can call us on 1300 654 329 to check.

How long will it take to get paid?

If you submit your invoice using LanternPay, you will be paid the next business day. If you submit your invoice by post, payments are made weekly.

My fees are higher than those listed in your fee schedule. What does this mean for my patient?

As we can only pay according to our fee schedules, you will need to invoice your patient for any difference. Your patient may have private health insurance they can utilise. Alternatively, you can elect to treat your patient at the cost of our fee schedules.

Talk to us

To ask questions, get help or provide feedback, call us on 1300 654 329 or use our online contact form.